One after another, well-known names are becoming victims of deepfake videos. Here’s how some of them reacted and dealt with the “extremely scary” situation.
The “scary trend” of deepfake videos, rather the very real, dark reality of AI has taken over our feeds and headlines. Every morning, a new name becomes a victim, from Rashmika Mandanna to Ranveer Singh, and now Pakistani YouTuber Ducky Bhai’s wife Aroob Jatoi. Such news is stressful and disturbing. However, many people may not know what exactly does a deepfake video entail. Read on as we explain what a deepfake video is, how some well-known names became its victims, and how they reacted to the situation.
What Is Deepfake?
A deepfake video digitally alters a person’s face or body to make them appear as someone else. It can also mimic the person’s voice on another individual. Such videos are often used maliciously or to spread false information.
Read on to know about some of the recent, affected people and how they dealt with this:
Giorgia Meloni – March 2024
Giorgia Meloni, Italy’s Prime Minister, faced distress when deepfake videos of her appeared online. These videos were uploaded to a website featuring adult content based in the US and gained millions of views over several months.
Seeking justice, Meloni is demanding €100,000 in compensation for the unauthorized use of her image in these videos.
She is set to testify in court in Sassari on July 2, aiming to address the serious implications of deepfake technology and hold the responsible parties accountable.
Authorities are investigating a 40-year-old suspect, believed to have produced the videos, along with his 73-year-old father. They are suspected of swapping Meloni’s face with that of an adult film actor in the videos.
Ranveer Singh – April 2024
During the first phase of the Lok Sabha elections – the Indian general elections, a deepfake video emerged featuring Ranveer Singh criticizing a political party. The video, generated using artificial intelligence, circulated widely, alarming the actor and the public. It utilized footage from Singh’s visit to Varanasi for a fashion show, where he interacted with the media.
Expressing concern over the misuse of deepfake technology, Singh cautioned the public about the risks associated with such manipulative content. He highlighted the potential for misinformation and urged vigilance among viewers.
In response to the viral video, Singh took decisive action by filing a police case against its creators. This proactive step demonstrated his commitment to combatting the spread of deceptive content. The incident served as a stark reminder of the growing threat posed by deepfake videos in the political and entertainment spheres.
Rashmika Mandanna – November 2023
In November last year, a deepfake video was circulated, showing Rashmika Mandanna’s face seamlessly superimposed onto British-Indian influencer Zara Patel’s body. This sparked widespread concern regarding the regulation of social media platforms.
Reacting to the incident, Mandanna expressed her distress, describing it as “extremely scary.” She highlighted the vulnerability individuals face due to technology misuse. In response, The Center issued an advisory to social media platforms, emphasizing legal consequences for deepfake creation and dissemination.
Later, Delhi police announced the arrest of the individual responsible for Mandanna’s deepfake video. This arrest marked a significant step in addressing public concerns and ensuring accountability for such malicious activities.
Alia Bhatt – November 2023
Alia Bhatt became the victim of a deepfake video after Rashmika Mandanna, joining a growing list of celebrities targeted by this technology. In the video, a woman’s face is digitally altered to resemble Bhatt, engaging in inappropriate gestures.
The circulation of these fake videos has sparked widespread concern about the potential for misleading content targeting public figures, highlighting the alarming capabilities of AI in creating convincing deepfakes.
The Indian government has announced stringent penalties for the creation and dissemination of deepfake content, including a fine of ₹1 lakh and up to three years in jail.
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MEIT) plans to develop a website where users can report IT rule violations, with assistance provided for filing FIRs.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also expressed concern over the misuse of AI for creating deepfake videos, emphasizing the need for responsible technology usage.
Sachin Tendulkar – January 2024
In January 2024, a deepfake video emerged featuring cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar endorsing a mobile app called “Skyward Aviator Quest.” The video falsely portrayed Tendulkar claiming that his daughter, Sara Tendulkar, was earning substantial income through the app.
In the fabricated footage, Tendulkar appeared casually seated while promoting the app, seemingly unaware of the deception. However, upon closer examination, viewers could discern that the video was indeed a deepfake, digitally manipulated to misrepresent Tendulkar’s endorsement.
Tendulkar promptly addressed the issue on social media, denouncing the falsified content and calling for collective action against such misuse of technology. His response shed light on the urgency of combatting deepfakes and misinformation, emphasizing the critical role of social media platforms in swiftly addressing such deceptive content.
Rajeev Chandrasekhar, India’s junior minister for information technology (IT), echoed Tendulkar’s concerns, emphasizing the need for stringent regulations to ensure the immediate removal of deepfake videos from social media platforms.
Ducky Bhai – April 2024
Recently, Aroob Jatoi, the wife of YouTuber Ducky Bhai, faced distress when an inappropriate video allegedly featuring her went viral online.
Expressing her dismay on social media, she condemned the bitter use of deepfake technology to invade women’s privacy.
Acknowledging the fake video, Aroob Jatoi emphasized the urgent need to combat the misuse of artificial intelligence for wicked purposes.
In response, Ducky Bhai announced a reward of Rs 1 million for credible information leading to the identification of the creators of such deepfake videos.
There is no doubt, AI and deepfake is leading to not just blurring the lines, (we are far beyond that). Now, its leaving us devoid of our ability to decipher, know what is real and what is fake and that in it self is very scary.
